Sallisaw Police Chief Pleads Not Guilty To Embezzlement Charge

Wednesday

Apr 24, 2013 at 4:06 AMApr 26, 2013 at 9:09 AM

CORRECTION: The Sallisaw City Commission amended a city ordinance in February to enable City Manager Bill Baker to assume supervision of the police department for 90 days while an investigation continued into an allegation Police Chief Shaloa Edwards had taken public funds for private use. A report on page 1A in Thursday's edition incorrectly stated the city charter was amended.

CORRECTION: The Sallisaw City Commission amended a city ordinance in February to enable City Manager Bill Baker to assume supervision of the police department for 90 days while an investigation continued into an allegation Police Chief Shaloa Edwards had taken public funds for private use. A report on page 1A in Thursday’s edition incorrectly stated the city charter was amended.

SALLISAW — Sallisaw Police Chief Shaloa Edwards on Wednesday entered a not-guilty plea to an embezzling charge in Sequoyah County District Court.

On April 12, the District Attorney’s Office charged Edwards, 51, the city’s elected police chief since 2005, with embezzlement of public money for allegedly taking $60 for personal use from a cash account the police department uses to make change when people purchase police reports. Edwards turned himself in, was arrested and bonded out of jail on the same day.

Edwards appeared before Sequoyah County Special Judge Larry Langley with his defense attorney, Fourth Scoufos of Sallisaw, during Langley’s disposition docket Wednesday to enter his plea, Assistant District Attorney Stacey Slaughter said.

No further court date had been set as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Court Clerk’s Office records.

According to city officials, Edwards repaid the money he allegedly took from the cash drawer and left an IOU in its place. According to court documents, Edwards allegedly took the money between Nov. 8 and Nov. 14, 2012.

According to an affidavit by Sallisaw Police Capt. Beau Gabbert, city policy states only the city’s petty cash fund at Sallisaw City Hall may be used to disburse funds for employee expenses, but employees cannot receive cash from it for personal use.

A conviction on the felony charge is punishable by a fine triple the amount of money embezzled and a prison sentence of one to 10 years.

On Feb. 11, the Sallisaw City Commission amended a portion of the city charter to allow City Manager Bill Baker to assume supervision of the police department for 90 days while an investigation was underway. Baker assigned Gabbert to handle daily management duties.

On March 20, Edwards filed a civil suit in Sequoyah County District Court, asking the court to grant him an injunction against the city, Mayor Shannon Vann and Baker. Fort Smith attorney Sam Sexton III represents Edwards in that civil suit.

In that suit, Edwards contends because he is an elected official to a position created by the city charter, city administration cannot eliminate his position or transfer his duties. Edwards contends Baker usurped the police chief’s authority, and that the city improperly and unconstitutionally deprived Sallisaw voters of their rights.

In the city’s response to the lawsuit, Sallisaw City Attorney John Robert Montgomery of Sallisaw states that the contends because the Sallisaw Board of Commissioners gave supervision and control of the police department to the chief, the Commission has the legal power to modify or delete that authority. The city also contends that under the charter the city manager’s duties include direct or indirect supervision and control of all city departments, agencies, officers and employees.

A hearing is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday before Judge Holli Wells.

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